5-Star Environmental Recognition Program
for Child Care Providers
Building Condition Checklist
This checklist reflects many of the items IDEM staff will check during a 5-Star Site Visit. Whether you’re planning to join the 5-Star Program, or are interested in assessing your building, this checklist can help identify possible areas for improvement at your child care facility.
To join the 5-Star Program, call 800-988-7901 or go on line at www.in.gov/idem/childcare to learn more about the program.
May 2009
Kitchen
Ceiling
¨ No water damaged ceiling tiles
¨ Vents are clean
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Fluorescent bulbs are covered
Walls
¨ Window screens securely in place with no holes
¨ No visible light around exterior doors
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Fire extinguisher is present
¨ Hand washing sign posted
¨ Emergency exit sign posted
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Mercury thermostats contain sticker
¨ Digital thermostat
Floor
¨ Floor drains are clean
¨ No sewer gas smell from floor drains
¨ No evidence of mouse dropping/cockroaches
¨ Floor tiles in good condition
¨ Baseboards in place
¨ No gnats
¨ Food crumbs are not present under items, in cracks, etc.
Refrigerator
¨ Non-mercury thermometer in freezer and refrigerator
¨ Drip pan does not contain water
¨ No food scraps around/under refrigerator
¨ Inside is clean/free of spilled items, crumbs, etc.
Oven
¨ If gas, vents to outside
¨ No food scraps around/under oven
¨ No grease build up on stove hoods/other equipment
¨ Inside is clean/free of spilled items, crumbs, etc.
¨ Working CO alarm present if gas stove used (alarm may be kept outside of kitchen)
Pantry/Cabinets
¨ No air fresheners, candles, plug-ins present
¨ No pesticides present
¨ Stores food in tightly sealed glass, plastic, or stainless steel containers
¨ Labels food with expiration date
¨ Food not stored in cardboard
¨ Shelves free of food scraps
¨ Able to sweep under shelves
¨ Cleanup/containment equipment (i.e. red, biohazard bags or ziplock baggies (need to be marked for biohazard use), gloves , mask, eye protection, absorbent)
¨ Chemicals are not stored on shelves above food
Other
¨ Energy star products
Classrooms
Ceiling
¨ No water damaged ceiling tiles
¨ Vents are clean
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Fluorescent bulbs are covered
¨ Emergency lighting is present
Walls
¨ Window screens securely in place with no holes
¨ No visible light around exterior doors
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Fire extinguisher is present or easily available
¨ Hand washing sign posted
¨ Emergency exit sign posted
¨ No plug in air fresheners present
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Mercury thermostats contain sticker
Floor
¨ Floor drains are clean
¨ No sewer gas smell from floor drains
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Floor tiles in good condition
¨ Baseboards in place
¨ No gnats
¨ Food crumbs are not present under items, in cracks, etc.
Cabinets
¨ No air fresheners, candles, plug-ins present
¨ No pesticides present
¨ All cleaning chemicals and other chemicals are in locked cabinets (including white out and rubber cement)
¨ Properly label secondary containers
¨ Grains used for art projects contain no pests
¨ No stored food present
¨ No stored pesticides present
¨ Purses stored in locked cabinet
¨ No mercury thermometers present
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Medications stored in locked cabinet
¨ Chemicals are not stored on shelves above food
¨ Cleanup/containment equipment (i.e. red, biohazard bags or ziplock baggies (need to be marked for biohazard use), gloves , mask, eye protection, absorbent)
Other
¨ No animals present
¨ No animal feces present
¨ No space heaters present
¨ No humidifier present
¨ Fish tanks are free from fish food on outside of tank
¨ Means of egress are free from obstruction
¨ Fire extinguishers kept current
¨ Lights turned off in areas not in use.
¨ Energy star products
Basement or Utility Room
Ceiling
¨ No water damaged ceiling tiles
¨ Vents are clean
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Fluorescent bulbs are covered
Walls
¨ Window screens securely in place with no holes
¨ No visible light around exterior doors
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Fire extinguisher is present or easily available
¨ Hand washing sign posted
¨ Emergency exit sign posted
¨ No plug-in air fresheners present
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Mercury thermostats contain sticker
Floor
¨ Floor drains are clean
¨ No sewer gas smell from floor drains
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Floor tiles in good condition
¨ Baseboards in place
¨ No gnats
¨ Food is not stored on floor.
¨ Food crumbs are not present under items, in cracks, etc.
Water Heater
¨ Vent gas water heaters outside
¨ Insulating blanket used on water heater (not required)
Furnace
¨ Gas furnaces/appliances should be in good working order
¨ Filters are clean
¨ Gasoline-powered engines not stored inside
Other
¨ Fluorescent bulbs for recycling properly labeled
¨ Evaporation trays in air conditioners and dehumidifiers clean
¨ Drain pans are clean and slant toward drain
¨ Utility room is clean, orderly
¨ No water sources present (leaking pipes, buckets)
¨ Mops off the floor
¨ No cracks and crevices in the floor
¨ Chemicals are not stored on the floor or in cardboard boxes
¨ Utility or basement room door is locked
¨ No dust and grease present on gas/electrical equipment
¨ Flammables stored in tightly sealed containers away from appliances
¨ Trash has not accumulated near gas/electric appliances
¨ No strong odor present
¨ HEPA vacuum
¨ No accumulation of dust present
¨ No chemicals stored here
¨ No pesticides present
Break Room and Office
Ceiling
¨ No water damaged ceiling tiles
¨ Vents are clean
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Fluorescent bulbs are covered
Walls
¨ Window screens securely in place with no holes
¨ No visible light around exterior doors
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Fire extinguisher is present or easily available
¨ Hand washing sign posted
¨ Emergency exit sign posted
¨ No plug in air fresheners present
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Mercury thermostats contain sticker
Floor
¨ Floor drains are clean
¨ No sewer gas smell from floor drains
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Floor tiles in good condition
¨ Baseboards in place
¨ No gnats
¨ Food is not stored on floor.
¨ Food crumbs are not present under items, in cracks, etc.
¨ Floor mats present at entrances to building
Cabinets
¨ No air fresheners, candles, plug-ins present
¨ No pesticides present
¨ All cleaning chemicals and other chemicals are in locked cabinets (including white out and rubber cement)
¨ Properly label secondary containers
¨ No stored food present
¨ No stored pesticides present
¨ Purses stored in locked cabinet
¨ No mercury thermometers present
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Medications stored in locked cabinet
Other
¨ Copy machine is energy star
¨ Lights turned off in areas not in use.
Bathrooms
Ceiling
¨ No water damaged ceiling tiles
¨ Vents are clean
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Fluorescent bulbs are covered
¨ Exhaust fans present
¨ Exhaust fans vent outside
Walls
¨ Window screens securely in place with no holes
¨ No visible light around exterior doors
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Fire extinguisher is present or easily available
¨ Hand washing sign posted
¨ Emergency exit sign posted
¨ No plug in air fresheners present
¨ Insulation on pipes in good condition
¨ Mercury thermostats contain sticker
¨ No automatic air fresheners used
Floor
¨ Floor drains are clean
¨ No sewer gas smell from floor drains
¨ No evidence of mouse droppings/cockroaches
¨ Floor tiles in good condition
¨ Baseboards in place
¨ No gnats
¨ Food is not stored on floor.
¨ Food crumbs are not present under items, in cracks, etc.
¨ No evidence of staining or water damage
Toilets/Sinks
¨ Completely sealed
¨ No leaking faucets
Cabinets
¨ No air fresheners, candles, plug-ins present
¨ All cleaning chemicals and other chemicals are in locked cabinets (including white out and rubber cement)
¨ Properly label secondary containers
Other
¨ No corrosion on water pipes
¨ No water damage
¨ No medication stored in the bathroom
¨ No toothbrushes stored in bathroom
¨ Lights turned off in areas not in use.
Outside
Around Building
¨ Dumpster located at least 30’ from building
¨ Dumpster not located near air intake
¨ No cars able to idle near air intake
¨ Air intakes free from obstructions
¨ No trees/shrubs touching building
¨ Gutter runoffs in place to move water away from building
¨ Gutters in good condition (attached, no peeling paint)
¨ No peeling paint
¨ Shingles in good condition
¨ No bird nests present on structure
¨ Window screens in place and no holes
¨ No PCB transformers present
¨ Don’t let yard waste accumulate
Playground
¨ No bare soil
¨ No peeling paint on playground equipment
¨ No standing water
¨ No animal feces
¨ Floor mats present where children enter/exit playground
¨ No peeling paint on fences, barns, other structure on playground
¨ No poison ivy present
¨ Don’t let yard waste accumulate